Camilla, Queen of the Lost Empire in "Caredodo" (Fiction House;1940)

Legendary golden age artist Bob Powell illustrates "Caredodo", a previously untitled thriller starring Camilla, Queen of the Lost Empire from Jungle Comics #6 (Jun.1940); originally published by Fiction House. Clearly inspired on the classic novel “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” by Victor Hugo, it is still a fun read. The Catacombs is grateful to Don "Zu-Gogo" Falkos for providing the scans for this story. Note: The copyright for this issue, its contents and artwork belongs to the original publisher and/or creators and is reproduced here solely for entertainment purposes. Enjoy!

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"Gal" Friday! National Cleavage Day

Photo copyright The Aggregate.

Sit up and pay attention, boys. These guns are loaded ....

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Nuff Said .... !!

... but only briefly!

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"Gal" Friday! Middle Excellence

So according to Hoyle, Iran might want to heavily invest in the nuclear biz in order to get the raw materials to make their own big ass bombs. So what? We've got thousands of them that would pack a much larger wallop. Get over it! Here is an interestingly anonymous photo (as in I don't know who these three lovely damsels are). The sultry lass in the center is apparently an Iranian "gal" who won a bikini contest wearing this almost non-existent scrap of cloth, which definitely qualifies her for inclusion in my nearly nude month of postings. Look at that fine form fellas. Now really, who would want to go to war with that??

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Bombo in "The Creeping Scourge" (Star Publications;1952)

Here is a neat golden age curiosity for you to digest. Regular Catacombs Congo King, Jo-Jo appears today, but in repurposed form as “Bombo” in a wild tale billed as “The Creeping Scourge” from Terrors of the Jungle #20 (Dec.1952); released by Star Publications. His gal-pal Tanee doesn't endure a name change; go figure. Also included is the terrific L.B. Cole cover from the issue that highlights this very story (the original title was actually “The Crimson Scourge”) which ran in Jo-Jo #11 (Jun.1948). The Catacombs is grateful to Don "Zu-Gogo" Falkos for providing the scans for this story. Note: The copyright for this issue, its contents and artwork belongs to the original publishers and/or the creators and is reproduced here solely for entertainment purposes. Enjoy!

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Jungol in "The Savage Craving" (Holyoke;1947)

Jungol makes a return visit to the Catacombs in a previously untitled story from Sparkling Stars #29 (Nov.1947); originally published by Holyoke and illustrated by Tom Golden. Actor Phil Gant became famous for his movie serial role of "Jungol the Man-Beast" until he received a blow on the head that convinced him that he actually was the very jungle lord that he had been portraying onscreen. The Catacombs is grateful to Don "Zu-Gogo" Falkos for providing the scans for this story. Note: The copyright for this issue, its contents and artwork belongs to the original publishers and/or the creators and is reproduced here solely for entertainment purposes. Enjoy!

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Jun-Gal in "The Moon of the Sacrifice" (Rural Home;1945)

Insensitive, racist elements were often on display during the golden age of comics and it is for that reason alone, that modern readers prefer to ignore some of these stories. This previously untitled Jun-Gal adventure which I've christened "The Moon of the Sacrifice" is from Blazing Comics #4 (Vol. 2; #1-Feb.1945); originally released by minor golden age publisher Rural Home Publications. Like earlier Jun-Gal stories that I’ve posted, this tale includes racist stereotypes. The native Africans are depicted in standard black-face for that era and there is a token black female character called "Mammy". Jun-Gal received special powers from exposure to a nearby radium pit after she was abducted by the tribesmen who had slaughtered her family. Why the tribesmen never received equal powers from living in such close proximity to the radium goes conveniently unexplained. Fortunately the natives kept Mammy alive to care for the little white girl. There is no explanation as to why Joan (aka "Jun-Gal") isn't speaking pigeon English too, but today's tale features a big surprise for our lead heroine that hearkens back to her own true origin. There is no writer credit available for this story, but the artist is identified as Harold De Lay in the GCD. The Catacombs is grateful to Don "Zu-Gogo" Falkos for providing the scans. Note: The copyright for this issue, its contents and artwork belongs to the original publisher and/or creators and is reproduced here solely for entertainment purposes. Enjoy!

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In Memorium: Fran Matera

Tribune photo by Scott Iskowitz

Adding to the roster of what has been a rough month for genre fans, comes news that another golden age artist has passed away. Francis "Fran" Matera (December 9, 1924-March 15, 2012) was best known for his syndicated work on Steve Roper and Mike Nomad for King Features from 1984 to 2004. In addition to his extensive experience in newspaper strips providing art on such classics as Kerry Drake, Dickie Dare, Mr. Holiday, Nero Wolfe, Rex Morgan M.D., Judge Parker, Apartment 3-G and Indiana Jones, Matera also spent many years in the comic book industry, particularly for Charlton Comics on series like Fightin’ Marines, Gabby Hayes and Speed Demons. The Catacombs extends its condolences to his family, friends and fans.

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Tabu, Wizard of the Jungle in "Fishmen of the Congo" (Fiction House; 1940)

Tabu, Wizard of the Jungle returns to the Catacombs today in a previously untitled tale that I’ve dubbed “Fishmen of the Congo” from Jungle Comics #11 (Nov.1940); originally published by Fiction House and credited to writer Robert Lewis and artist Charles Sultan. The Catacombs is grateful to Don "Zu-Gogo" Falkos for providing the scans for this story. Note: the copyright for this issue, its contents and artwork belongs to the original publisher and/or creators and is reproduced here solely for entertainment purposes. Enjoy!

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Danny Dreams of "Gulliver Isle" (St. John;1954)

"Danny Dreams" was a regular backup feature in the St. John Publishing series Tor. This previously untitled sequence from Tor #5 (Oct.1954) was illustrated by Joe Kubert and Mort Meskin and gets a groovy new title courtesy of yours truly. This early silver age story was later reprinted during the bronze age (DC, 1975 series) Tor #3 (September-October 1975). The Catacombs is grateful to Don "Zu-Gogo" Falkos for providing the scans for this story. Note: The copyright for this issue, its contents and artwork belongs to the original publisher and/or creators and is reproduced here solely for entertainment purposes. Enjoy!

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"Gal" Friday! LizMaree

Continuing my March Madness Month of nearly nude "gal" Friday's. This weeks eye-popping beauty isn't slathered in body paint, but she just can't be summed up in a few measly words either, so stare away to your hearts content. I found this lovely photo in an open public gallery on Facebook, so I guess it's not a problem to identify this luscious "gal" by the name she posts under there. Marvel (please click to embiggen) at "LizMaree"; cold showers or other forms of therapy are recommended. Yikes!!

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In Memorium: Sid Couchey

Harvey Comics artist Sid Couchey passed away at the age of ninety-two on March 11, 2012 after recently being diagnosed with an aggressive form of lymphoma cancer. Couchey began his long career in comics serving as an assistant to Superman co-creator Joe Shuster. He produced a steady and largely uncredited body of work on a number of comics through the 1950s, and then worked on various Harvey titles like Little Lotta, Richie Rich and Little Dot during the 1960s and 1970s. Later he began a second career as a local-interest cartoonist, drawing comics about "Champy", Lake Champlain’s answer to the Loch Ness Monster. Trivia: He is credited with being the first artist to embed a real-life marriage proposal in a comic. The Catacombs extends its sincerest condolences to his family, friends and fans.

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